Bakersfield Brigade

Football club infobox
clubname = Bakersfield Brigade


fullname = Bakersfield Brigade
nickname = The Legion
founded = 2005
ground = Bakersfield Christian HS Stadium
capacity = 4,422
chairman = flagicon|USA Jeff Thorn
manager = flagicon|USA Francisco Gomez
league = USL Premier Development League
season = 2008
position = 7th, Southwest Division

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Bakersfield Brigade are an American soccer team, founded in 2005. The team is a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, and plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference against teams from Calabasas, Costa Mesa, Fresno, Glendora, La Mirada, Lancaster, San Francisco, San Jose and Ventura.

They play their home games in the stadium on the campus of Bakersfield Christian High School in the city of Bakersfield, California. The team's colors are black, red and white.

The Brigade is coached by 8-year MLS veteran Francisco Gomez. Gomez was a member of the U-17 and U-20 US national team, and played in the 2000 MLS Cup game for Kansas City Wizards.

Former US national team star and ESPN broadcaster Eric Wynalda is a current member of the Brigade squad.

The club also fields a team in the USL’s Super-20 League, a league for players 17 to 20 years of age run under the United Soccer Leagues umbrella.

2008 Roster

Year-by-year

Competition History

The Brigade made their debut in PDL competition in 2005 under head coach Jay Gore, but lost their first competitive game 1-0 to the visiting California Gold. During their first season, Brigade were generally better on the road than they were at home, registering victories over San Diego, Nevada and Southern California Seahorses. Brigade missed out on qualifying for the post-season, finishing 5th in the division and ranked 32nd nationally, despite a comprehensive last-day victory over California Gold. Their season top scorer was CSU Bakersfield striker Lyle Martin, who notched up 5 goals.

2006 was a similar story. A strong season start saw the Brigade register victories over San Diego and Southern California Seahorses, but inconsistency at home in the mid-season again ended the team's playoff hopes fairly early, following five defeats in six games at their home home at Bakersfield Christian High School. Brigade finished the season in 7th place; Lyle Martin again led the team's offense, registering 9 goals and 2 assists.

2007 saw a change in leadership and a change in goalkeeper - Jay Gore was replaced by 8-year MLS veteran Francisco Gomez as head coach, USMNT legend Eric Wynalda came on board as an advisor, and shot-stopper Kyle Reynish was drafted by Real Salt Lake; early season, the Brigade's new team seemed to be working, with season-opening victories over Fresno Fuego and Orange County Blue Star bringing them a first ever US Open Cup qualification. Sadly, Brigade's cup dreams ended with a first round 2-0 defeat to USL-1 side Portland Timbers. Similarly, a late-season collapse ended Brigade's playoff hopes quickly - the team suffered six defeats in seven games, including a 5-0 demolition away to Los Angeles Storm, despite Wynalda taking to the field himself for 24 minutes in the Storm return fixture. Brigade finished the season in 8th place; top scorer Santiago Aguilera Navarro scored an impressive 8 goals and 5 assists.

Notable former players

* Desmond Brooks
* Lyle Martin
* Tino Nuñez
* Kyle Reynish

Coaches

* Jay Gore 2005-06
* Francisco Gomez 2007-date

Stadia

* Stadium at Bakersfield Christian High School, Bakersfield, California 2005-date

Average Attendance

*2008: 884
*2007: 806 (7th highest in PDL)
*2006: 697 (10th highest in PDL)
*2005: 434

External links

* [http://www.bakersfieldbrigade.com Bakersfield Brigade]